A’s exhibition win livened up by unique Tokyo Dome atmosphere

A's defeat Japanese club in lively exhibition

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TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Pitcher Frankie Montas (L) #47 and Catcher Nick Hundley (R) #3 of the Oakland Athletics celebrate their 5-1 victory in the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Oakland Athletics players and coaches celebrate their 5-1 victory in the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Infielder Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics hits a single in the top of 4th inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Oakland Athletics players and coaches celebrate their 5-1 victory in the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Pitcher Joakim Soria #48 of the Oakland Athletics throws in the bottom of 2nd inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Designated hitter Khris Davis #2 of the Oakland Athletics appluads fans after the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Sho Nakata #6 of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at bat during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Infielder Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics is seen after hitting a single in the top of 3rd inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Infielder Matt Olson #28 of the Oakland Athletics hits a single in the top of 3rd innig during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Head coach Bob Melvin #6 is seen in the dug out during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Designated hitter Khris Davis #2 of the Oakland Athletics hits a RBI double to make it 2-0 in the top of 3rd inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Outfielder Stephen Piscotty #25 of the Oakland Athletics is tagged out on the third base in the top of 3rd inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Outfielder Stephen Piscotty #25 of the Oakland Athletics hits a RBI single to make it 3-0 in the top of 3rd inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Head coach Bob Melvin #6 of the Oakland Athletics and Head coach Hideki Kuriyama #80 of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters shake hands prior to the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Pitcher Fernando Rodney #56 of the Oakland Athletics throws in the bottom of 4th inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Masanori Murakami smiles after throwing the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Pitcher Lou Trivino #62 of the Oakland Athletics throws in the bottom of 3rd inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Outfielder Robbie Grossman #8 of the Oakland Athletics is congratulated by Head coach Bob Melvin #6 after scoring a run to make it 1-0 in the top of 1st inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Infielder Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics hits a triple in the top of 8th inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Pitcher Ryan Buchter #52 of the Oakland Athletics throws in the bottom of 5th inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Outfielder Ramon Laureano #22 of the Oakland Athletics is caught stealing the third base on the top of 2nd inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Infielder Jurickson Profar #23 of the Oakland Athletics fields a grounder in the bottom of 8th inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Pitcher Blake Treinen #39 of the Oakland Athletics throws in the bottom of 8th inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Designated hitter Khris Davis #2 fist bumps with Head coach Bob Melvin #6 of the Oakland Athletics in the top of 9th inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Infielder Jurickson Profar #23 of the Oakland Athletics hits a RBI double to make it 5-1 in the top of 9th inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Pinch runner Cliff Pennington #15 of the Oakland Athletics steals the second base in the top of 9th inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Pitcher Liam Hendriks #16 of the Oakland Athletics talks with Catcher Nick Hundley #3 in the bottom of 1st inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 17: Pitcher Joakim Soria #48 of the Oakland Athletics throws in the bottom of 2nd inning during the game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

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TOKYO — It was only an exhibition game, but the atmosphere inside the Tokyo Dome made the first matchup between the A’s and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters feel like something much more special.

Everything about the pregame batting practice in the A’s 5-1 victory over the Fighters Sunday seemed like an important game. The Japanese fans arrived early and marveled at the show put on by A’s sluggers Khris Davis and Matt Olson. They both took turns peppering the several billboards that surround the deepest corners of the stadium well above the bleachers.

“It’s a carnival atmosphere,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “There’s a lot going on that’s different from the States. It’s one of the things our guys were looking forward to and it lived up to the billing.”

A’s legend Rickey Henderson was in the house and got the Elvis treatment as he snuck away from his pregame interviews for a stroll down the right-field line where he signed autographs and was mobbed by fans chanting his name and hoping to lay just a finger on the Hall of Famer.

Once the game began, it was as if the A’s picked up right where they left off from their 97-win 2018 season.

Robbie Grossman, the new leadoff man, started things with a bang — specificically a triple off the wall in right center. He scored on a Khris Davis groundout and the A’s had a lead they never relinquished.

The A’s bullpen was lights-out in what was an all-reliever game started by Liam Hendriks. Hendriks along with seven other pitchers were sharp as they combined for 11 strikeouts and no walks over nine innings.

“We finished the season last year the same way,” Hendriks said, referring to the A’s opener strategy in the wild-card game loss to the New York Yankees. “Unfortunately that didn’t work out as well as it did today.”

The A’s gave a good accounting of themselves. But the fans put on a show of their own.

Unlike the early game, between the Seattle Mariners (think Ichiro) and Yomiuri Giants, the A’s game was not a sellout. But the 26,198 fans who turned out made themselves heard.

A large contingent took over the left-field bleachers and provided nonstop entertainment. Decked out in orange and blue, the colors of the team, they waved flags and banged drums for each Fighters player who took the field to begin the game.

When the Fighters were at-bat, fans would chant the name of the player at the plate and then break out in a unique song for each player that lasted throughout the entire at-bat. The enthusiasm never waned. These fans stuck around until Frankie Montas induced a groundout to third against Shinya Tsuroaka to finish off the game.

In the right-field bleachers, a small group of Japanese A’s fans did their best to compete. Equipped with blowhorns, the A’s side often belted “Let’s Go Oakland!” chants and slow “ball four” chants every time a Fighters pitcher reached a three-ball count to an A’s batter.

“I thought it was pretty similar to home because of the drums in the outfield,” Davis said. “That beating drum reminded me of Oakland.”

The Fighters are based in Sapporo, about a three-hour flight from Tokyo, but they called the Tokyo Dome home from 1988-2003. The Giants are the far more popular team in the area, but these two exhibition games allow some now misplaced Fighters fans to see their team without having to travel too far.

The Fighters have also been known to develop some impressive major league talent over the years. Most recently they’ve exported Yu Darvish and Shohei Ohtani to the big leagues, and they might have the next big Japanese star ready to make the jump.

Kotaro Kiyomiya, a left-handed hitting 19-year-old infielder, set the unofficial high school baseball record for home runs in Japan with 111 before turning pro. Kiyomiya isn’t playing these exhibitions because of a wrist injury, but already has been drawing attention from several MLB clubs.

“You’ll be seeing him in the United States very soon,” said one play-by-play announcer for the Fighters. “He is very good.”

Stars get the bats going

After a shortened slate of spring training games for Davis and Matt Chapman, the A’s were encouraged by the way both swung the bat in Sunday’s first exhibition game.

Chapman picked up three hits, belting a triple off the right-field wall in the eighth and getting on base a total of five times.

“You know that some guys have slow springs early on and then when it gets close to the bell ringing, the at-bats get better,” Melvin said. “That lends to some confidence when you are heading into the season.”

Davis had two hits, blasting a near-home run that bounced off the top of the right-field wall in the third for an RBI double.

Martin Gallegos is a multimedia beat reporter covering the Oakland Athletics. A native of San Jose, he frequently attended ballgames at both AT&T Park and the Oakland Coliseum as a kid. Prior to covering the A's, he covered the Earthquakes, San Jose State football, and high school sports around the Bay Area. A self-proclaimed "Burrito Connoisseur," Martin is constantly on the search for the best burrito in each Major League city.